Sacramento Travel Guide

California's capital is a city of contrast, with the older neighborhoods reflecting their homesick builders' origins in the Midwest and East. Since the mid-1800s, politicians and their associates have traditionally lodged in luxury hotels near the State Capitol building. A wide spectrum of lodgings for everybody from the working class to the well to do can be found in this district known as Downtown/Midtown. Construction of the Sacramento Convention Center and restoration of Old Sacramento has brought a number of good hotels that draw both tourists and business travelers.

Sacramento International Airport has fueled hotel building along the Interstate 5 corridor north of downtown by adding more international and domestic flights to its hub. To the east, tourists traveling to the historic towns of Folsom and Auburn find both quaint and modern accommodations available. Both towns are great for window-shopping and have a variety of antique shops and boutiques. Beautifully restored and picturesque buildings can be found in Old Town Folsom and Old Town Auburn, and make good backdrops for family photos.

Davis, a college town 11 miles west of downtown Sacramento, is a family-friendly town. Within a few square blocks there are toy stores, a couple of candy shops, live theater, art galleries, two multiplex movie houses, bookstores and sidewalk cafes. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations and several upscale hotels are within walking distance of the University of California. To the south, the Sacramento River Delta is a wonderful natural preserve and recreation area. Unique lodgings in the Delta area have interesting histories and can be found in the small towns built on levees.

Old Sacramento/Downtown

The most unique lodgings have to be aboard the Delta King Riverboat, permanently moored alongside the Embarcadero at the Central Pacific depot in Old Sacramento. Mark Twain would recognize the brass fittings and rich wood paneling throughout the completely gutted and rebuilt old twin-chimney paddle wheel riverboat. This is a popular lodging place and many guests keep coming back to enjoy the novelty of eating breakfast on the deck, with sweeping views of the Tower bridge and river beyond.

The Sterling Hotel is a white Victorian mansion built in the 1890s and located six blocks from the Capitol. Completely renovated in 1995, the Sterling is authentically tasteful in every detail, down to the flowers bordering the carefully clipped front lawn. Inside, the most obvious modern intrusion is the Jacuzzis found in every room. The Sacramento Convention Center, the Amtrak railway station and Old Sacramento are within walking distance. Across L Street from Capitol Park, The Hyatt Regency is probably the only lodging that, once one is under the portico, has that indefinable feel of a big-city hotel. Enjoy the light-filled atrium lounge and a top-of-the-line restaurant off the lobby. The eatery, Dawson's, is a meat-lover's paradise. Many of the hotel's 500 rooms, spread over 15 floors, offer sweeping views of the swaying palms along Capitol Park. The Vagabond Inn, a few blocks east of the Capitol is a reliable, reasonably priced lodging.

Sacramento International Airport Area

A few minutes north of downtown, Sacramento International Airport lies in the middle of the rural Central Valley. There are plenty of short and long-term parking and free shuttle buses that run to the terminals. The newest terminal (for international flights) features sculpture donated by local artists and a food court that offers local cuisine. Next door, the Host Airport Hotel offers convenient lodgings. Five miles west, on the north side of Woodland, and within a few hundred feet of the freeway, are the Shadow Inn and Valley Oaks Inn. Both are pleasant and quiet places to stay.

Folsom/Auburn

East of downtown Sacramento, these two towns were both founded in the throes of the 1849 Gold Rush. Along Sutter Street in Folsom, you will find plenty of window-shopping and photo opportunities among the restored antique buildings. Many tourists also enjoy the Folsom Zoo, affectionately nicknamed the “Misfit Zoo,” which provides a haven for abandoned animals. Larkspur Landing Folsom is an interesting place with Jacuzzis, a swimming pool, and spa for relaxation. The Folsom Hilton has in-room data ports and amenities for the business traveler. Further northeast is Auburn, another original mining town where visitors can browse the shops and see the sites in the historic downtown. Further uphill, Old Town Auburn features many fine examples of 19th-century architecture.

Davis

Downtown, a few blocks from Interstate 80, is a quaint bed-and-breakfast and several comfortable hotels and motels. Palm Court Hotel provides upscale lodging, and has a soaring atrium off the elegant wood-paneled lobby and a cafe on the premises that offers California cuisine.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 281